Tea in the Morning, Treason in the Afternoon

[Meira]

Rook,

Afraid I couldn’t give you the information personally, trouble cropped up unexpectedly. Kovus has it now, and apparently there is more information than I originally expected….several data chits worth.

I’m really very sorry for our last encounter, it was a…trying…time for all of us. I’m also very sorry about your family…again, I wish I could have said all of this personally. Perhaps when things have calmed down a bit more...if that ever happens.

I’m sure more can be explained when you receive the information gathered.

Thank you so very much.

~ A


The indicator light on Rook's encrypted comm link had been blinking for quite a while. Hidden away as it was, this blinking had gone unnoticed for some time. In truth, recent events had caused Rook's mind to stray from his vigil over the device. But royal assassinations, coronations, and unexpected visits could do that to a man. Who could blame him?

And so it was not until late in the night, after Rook had returned from an urgent meeting with his advisers did the new Corellian monarch remember to check the comm. So many days of it being empty, he had only done it half-heartedly. His sleep deprived mind almost didn't register the meaning of the flashing indicator light. But when it did finally come to him, Rook's need for sleep was pushed aside as he took the device and hooked it up to his computer terminal.

The blue light of the screen made his face seem oddly pale in the near pitch black room. His brow furrowed as he read the words. Each one was more disconcerting than the last. He didn't like the idea of such words as "trouble" coming from Aunna. He remembered his own experience of falling into "trouble" with her and Vex. That kind of trouble was worse than the average variety.

When Rook finished the correspondence, he sat back in his chair and rubbed his hands over his face. At least this change in plans made getting the information a bit easier. A trip to meet a noble family was much easier to swing than one to meet a traitor and a dark Jedi. The latter just sounded like the bad beginnings of a joke. Rook shook his head. He would have to go in the morning. It was simply too late to go now. So he erased all record of the message and prepared himself to sleep.

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The next morning Rook rose from his bed feeling nearly as exhausted as he had when he first laid now. But such were the woes of the king. Strange that he was already getting used to it. But he got up all the same and washed and had his breakfast. Apart from possible acts of treason, today would be a fairly easy one. He had no meetings scheduled with the advisers. No visitors expected. No, just good old fashioned treason.

It wasn't hard to secure his transport to the Borgonia estate. There was nothing out of the ordinary for a monarch to visit his noble subjects, and indeed, the advisers saw this whim of Rook's as a good sign. They encouraged him to enjoy himself. He had earned it after all. And so the trip out to the Borgonia estate was quick and uneventful. He arrived with the usual flair and waited to be greeted in one of the family's fine sitting rooms. As he waited, he couldn't help but notice the ash in the fireplace. The sight elicited an arch to form of his eyebrow, for the use of the fireplace at such a warm time in the year was odd indeed.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

The last two days had been….eventful…to say the absolute least.

Between the unexpected ‘visit’ from their daughter and her so called guardian, to two jedi knights (one severely injured) and a padawan, and the constant demands of both sides of their family calling for Aunna and Jade’s immediate removal from their respective clans….well, Kovus was honestly exhausted. He and Sarah had stayed up for what felt like years…ALL of the first night, the next day, and most of the following night…debating just what should be done about the entire situation. Kovus hadn’t had much trouble persuading Sarah to delay the court date (until further notice), and contact her parents to try and stall the inevitable ‘fate’ of their children’s disowning. After whatever Vex had put her through (she still wouldn’t talk about it), his typically stubborn wife had been far more willing to see his point of view.

He, however, hadn’t had much time to mull over that confusing new development since he’d been dealing with his own relatives and, joy of joys, the jedi. The whole thing had been a mess of epic proportions and he wasn’t even CLOSE to sorting it out by the time King Rook arrived. Quite the contrary, actually…when the young man arrived, Kovus was arguing with his brother over the trial Aunna had been put through. Because of this he had been avoiding all the servants, and so, unfortunately, he didn’t even know Rook had arrived. Imagine the poor man’s face when he walked into his sitting room, arguing loudly with his blustering brother, and saw…of all people…his young king. Those blue eyes had widened, his words dieing off mid sentence, as he noted Rook’s presence. Returning to himself less than half a heartbeat later, he cut his brother off sharply.

I’ll talk to YOU later, I have company.

He didn’t even wait for a reply before shutting the com off and bowing slightly. Kovus found himself, surprisingly, relieved by Rook’s presence…though unexpected, he’d at least been a reason to stop arguing with his blasted brother, and had saved Kovus a trip to the palace. Standing straight once more, the older military man dropped the com into his pocket and sighed.

Ah Pr…

He stopped himself there and chuckled…Prince Rook? Well, old habits DO die hard…

…hmm, old habits, forgive me…your Majesty.

A half hearted smile touched his face, making the short, well groomed, salt and pepper beard surrounding his mouth to lift slightly at the edges. He hadn’t had much of a chance to speak to the young man since his coronation, but he didn’t see Rook as the type to overly enjoy fawning or heavy use of his title…but, sometimes one had to just spit it out a few times before allowing themselves to be less formal. With a few steps he sat down in the chair across from Rook, finally allowing his sore neck to relax a bit.

I’m sorry about that outburst I came in on…I didn’t realize you were here. Unfortunately I’ve been dealing with…some rather unexpected trouble.

It was amazing sometimes just how similar father and daughter could be, especially when the father had no clue about transmissions the daughter sent from his house.

To what do I owe the pleasure of your company today?...and would you care for something to eat or drink?

Formalities…they’d been a difficult lesson for the man to learn in his younger days, but sometimes you just had to play the game to get to where you needed to go. Kovus knew he wasn’t exactly in a position to go about asking the young king if he’d come to receive data chits of supposed evidence of his traitorous daughter’s innocence…especially not after the fiasco the last two days had been. A hand ran through his short hair at the thought and he suddenly wished he’d gotten more sleep…at his age the lack of sleep was telling on the face, at Rook’s age (lucky boy) it wasn’t…at least, not so obviously.

[Meira]

Kovus' sudden entrance into the room caused Rook to make a sharp turn on his heels. His brow furrowed at the odd entrance, but it was soon apparent that it had not been intentional. Kovus ended the call he had been on quickly and apologized. The odd thing about it all, aside from the general set up of the sutuation, was that Rook hadn't even noticed Kovus' slip of the tongue until Kovus addressed him as 'Majesty'. Of course, such new titles and formalities took time to settle into, and so it was no real surprise to Rook, nor was it insult. So Rook merely gave a nod of his head to dismiss the mistake. It would be as if it had never happened.

But the oddity of the visit continued. Rook, even though he was technically a guest in the home, moved over to a chair and sat down before Kovus. When Aunna's father settled himself into his chair and began to apologize and explain himself further, Rook held up his hand. Such things were not needed. Rook had heard about what happened at the Borgonia estate recently. He'd even been warned against visiting, but in the end, none could truly stop him. His excuse was logical. The King felt a need to visit with a loyal subject who had recently experienced what was sure to have been a dramatic ordeal. Rook was always concerned with the well being of his subjects and would not be so cruel as to not ensure Kovus' safety now.

When offered refreshment, Rook did nod his head. He spied a servant enter the room and looked over to the man. A glass of water if you please. Within only a few moments, a chilled glass was brought to the King and he took a sip before setting it down on a side table. He waited until the servant dismissed himself from the room before he spoke again.

The events that took place here a few nights ago have not escaped my attention. He said. His voice was neutral, as he was careful not to sound accusing. I do hope that you and your wife are alright, considering.

Rook took another sip from his water, turning his head to look out a window that overlooked some of the Borgonia property. He took a few breaths, knowing that even though the two of them both knew why Rook was here, the matter still had to be approached delicately.

I cannot imagine what you and your wife have been through. It must be difficult to bear. I don't know if you remember, but I did meet your daughter once. It was at my eldest brother's wedding.

Rook paused after that. The scars of Collin's death were still fresh on him and the memory stung. He took another sip of water. I remember that she had a beautiful voice. He stopped now. He wasn't sure just how to continue. Perhaps after Kovus' response, he might find a way to broach the subject of the information the man held for him.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Good, Rook seemed to already have a handle on what at least some of the situation was, and that saved a considerable amount of time, now it was only details. Absently, Kovus rubbed the bridge of his nose and nodded slightly.

Oh yes, everyone on the estate is fairly unharmed…only two guards were knocked out and the injured jedi, her padawan, and her partner are all still alive. Sarah…is a little shaken…but she too is otherwise unharmed. Really the only damage done were a few bruises and the power, which, obviously, has been seen to…and the only fatalities, a tree in the front that was used as a shield by the jedi and a measure of grass she decided to use against this Vex character. All in all, we were lucky.

While Rook took his time with his water and settling in, Kovus took the opportunity to fill in some of the fuzzier details tactfully. He didn’t want rumors of deaths or monstrous amounts of damage to be floating around if it could be helped. As the young king continued, the older man gave a rueful chuckle. The Borgonias, as a mainly militaristic centered family, knew how to keep their mouths closed about familial problems, and the Kartrights…Sarah’s family…being the noble family they were didn’t like scandals, so they too, tended to keep their mouths shut about potential problems. It would be no surprise to Kovus, if no one outside of the family knew about the push for their children’s disowning.

Ah, yes, at the mention of Collin’s wedding, Kovus very much did remember Rook and his daughter meeting. He sighed heavily at the compliment to Aunna’s voice and sank a bit in his chair. These past few months had been hellish for both men it seemed, and now, remembering how upset the girl had been after that party…well, it didn’t help much.

It’s been…more than a little difficult to deal with.

He gazed at the ashes in the fireplace quietly for a moment before turning those blue eyes back to the young man across from him.

Yes, I remember…she kept trying to get a hold of you after that actually, even went so far as to make a visit to the palace to try to see you before she decided to join the army. She still does have a lovely voice…even the dark jedi couldn’t seem to not be moved by it during our short…encounter.

A thoughtful look crossed his face for a moment before he sat up in his chair once more and smoothed himself out, getting rid of some of the creases in his clothing.

Would you mind over much if we talked in my study? I have some files there that need seeing to…and, to be honest, I could use your help with them I think.

He tapped the side of his head with one finger and gave a wry smile.

Old age does things to a mind, after all, and maybe between the two of us we can make heads or tails of these files of mine….besides, Sarah invited some friends over for tea, and I’d really rather escape them if I can.

Kovus’ mind was, of course, far from feeble…no, he was talking about the files he’d been given by Aunna and Vex; however, work was still part of a noble life style and so it wouldn’t be difficult for any eves droppers to dismiss the request as nothing, especially at the thought of women gossiping over tea. The beauty of his study was, as per his request when the estate had been built, it was secluded and relatively sound proofed. Kovus enjoyed his privacy, and as a former member of the military, he preferred his work to be known only by those he chose to impart the knowledge upon…it was this logic that had brought the suggestion to his mind. Nothing for Rooks guards to complain about since he was still in the house and safe from would be assassins and snipers, no complaints from the gaggle of women Sarah had invited over for tea since the men wouldn’t be around to take up room, no complaints from him since he’d be able to speak more freely…it seemed like a generally good idea.

Waiting for Rook’s answer, he’d finally stand and lead them to the study, allowing the young man to enter first and closing the door behind him, locking it. Motioning to one of the leather chairs, he took his own seat behind the desk and rummaged about inside the center drawer as he allowed the computer to start.

Again, I’m sorry for the entrance I made earlier…that was my brother….

He pulled a small box from inside the drawer and set it on the desk, opening it and pulling out several data chits, resting them on the polished wood before closing the box again.

I’m sure you noticed the fire place…the ashes…our families are calling for her and Jade to be disowned…completely. I’d been busy arguing with my brother about it when you arrived, I honestly had no idea you were here.

Steely blue eyes turned from Rook back down to the data chits.

I feel as though Aunna was the one to contact you…I doubt she could have said much, and we’re able to speak freely enough while we’re in here so long as we don’t go getting too terribly loud…so is there an place in particular you would like me to start?

He was, obviously, talking about explaining the happenings of the night before last as far as he knew them.

[Meira]

To be honest, Rook had been somewhat surprised that Kovus knew about the details of his and Aunna's time at the wedding. The woman was strong willed, no doubt a trait she inherited from Kovus, he would have thought she'd hide her pain. But Rook was not about to assume that it would have been the same for her as it had been for him. Aside from his masculine need to hide most emotions, Rook had always been the somewhat ignored child of the Royal family. It wasn't hard to keep his feelings hidden from people who didn't even care to look. Collin had known about the incident, but his mind had been far too filled with more important things than to seek Rook out just to see how he was doing. The guards, well, the royal guard was known for it's speak no evil policy. That left Creed.

No doubt it had been that wretched man that had made sure Rook was unaware of any attempt by Aunna to contact him. Indeed, he had made sure Rook never corresponded with her either. The only bit of information Creed ever allowed Rook to hear about Aunna was that she had left to join the army. If Rook were to be entirely honest, that had broken a part of him. And though Rook had most certainly moved on, his affection for Aunna no longer romantic, he could not honestly say that that break had entirely mended.

You must understand how very sorry I am about... He wanted to explain to Kovus. He felt a need to make him understand. But Rook couldn't bring himself to giving excuses. There was no excuse good enough to justify it. I just... I am sorry. His eyes dropped away and to the floor, unable to meet with Kovus'. But he was saved as the man graciously changed the subject, standing and asking for Rook to help him with some things in his study.

Rook's smile was both thankful and in humor as he stood and nodded, motioning for Kovus to lead the way. When Kovus apologized yet again for the entrance he had made, Rook again held up a hand and shook his head. Even with the more detailed explanation, one that explained the ashes in the fireplace, it was not necessary. Rook knew all to well the burdens of maintaining an honorable family name. He himself had been threatened with being disowned, his only chance at redemption being to leave Corellia and serve under Senator Kail as a penance of sorts.

Believe me sir, I understand more than you might know.

As the two settled down and Kovus guessed as to who had summoned Rook to the home, the King nodded. Yes, it had been Aunna who had contacted him. He knew fairly well what it was he'd receive here today; evidence as to Aunna's innocence. Apart from that, he was not entirely sure.

The main details I know. Let's start with what you were given.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

((dios mio, sorry it's soooooo long, but....yeah....yay for catching people up to speed! Aun needed to get this out in her own words anyway...never intended the post to be like this. *shrug* oh well))

He nodded, once, at the young king’s final statement and spread the data chits carefully before them, pulling one out. This one, he knew. It was the one the little droid had given him from Aunna while she’d likely been contacting Rook. Either way he slipped it into the port, bringing up the files within.

There are several, obviously…this first is from Aunna, the others…strangely…are from Vex Praetor.

He watched as several different files came up on the screen before him, and he turned it so Rook could also see. Four files in total appeared, two had coded names with dates (presumably containing video feed), and two were named regularly (message and personal log, respectively). It didn’t take long for Kovus to decide where to start. Clicking on the ‘message’ his holo projector came on, and the figure of Aunna appeared, sitting on what seemed to be a bed legs folded under her and looking as if she’d just gone though something extremely stressful.

So, I suppose if you’re watching this, it means I’ve somehow gotten this to where it needs to go. Thank goodness for small mercies…but, considering my current status and paranoia…you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t address you personally.

I…a lot has happened…a lot that I haven’t told anyone. Even now I’m not sure I should say anything, but…if I don’t tell the full truth now, I doubt anything will ever get done.

She sighed and ran a hand over her face, before looking up for a moment, pausing as if she heard something, then returned her eyes to the recording device, and thus, the people watching now.

I’m going to give you as short a version of what’s happened as possible. Hopefully it can be put into better clarity with my personal logs from the base before and after it was destroyed.

Another pause.

I first met Vex Praetor on Coruscant. I was on my way to a joint staff meeting for the Republic Military. I had the first night off and so I decided it was high time I got some decent food. Unfortunately for me, my need for food has been my downfall with this man it seems…I happened upon the one cantina that he decided to be in that night. I still don’t know why he was there, but I’ve never had the reason to care enough to ask either.

I didn’t notice him. I can only imagine that he was using one of his mind tricks, but either way, I settled myself in –alone- and placed my order. Over the course of the evening, I found myself in the company of several others, one of them being another military slave such as myself, but found that I had the feeling someone was watching me.

It turned out to be Vex.

As he left, presumably he didn’t like my finally noticing that he was watching me, he made it quite clear that he’d been creeping about in my mind and made a promise to me that we would be meeting again. I was stupid and took it only as a threat.

He did find me again.

This time it was on Selonia. As you may, or may not, know…my duty was to help find and bring to justice Dark Jedi...I think, now, I understand the irony of it and so, finally, know why it was he was laughing his head off when my men found him.

A rueful little chuckle escaped her as she shook her head at the notion.

Since my dealings with him on Coruscant, I found the need to test my men for mental strength and fortitude, and had requested the jedi test them against such attacks. It was likely a good thing that I did since I can’t imagine they were easy for him to dissuade from firing upon him and trying to subdue him. Either way, he got the point across that if I were going to continue searching for the dark jedi that I had ACTUALLY been sent there for, I would have to rid the area of him first.

I had the most experience and capability of fighting a dark jedi out of all of my men, and so, as he slunk away into a warehouse, I ordered my men to form a perimeter and I went in after him. Again I was stupid, and went in alone, but…I simply didn’t want any more of my men injured or killed because of him. It stood to reason that he didn’t want me dead, so if I went in alone, I had the best chance of coming out alive again.

………He seemed….interested in finding out more about me, as I went in to find him, and I was unsettled by the way he did so. I don’t think I can ever fully describe the feeling of his mental powers, what his presence is like in the force, but he did indeed probe my mind in a most uncomfortable and almost intimate way. I believe it was strictly to see what he could learn about me and set me on edge…which, if so, his tactic worked wonderfully. I was very much on edge.

I did was what typical, requesting he come quietly, that he was under arrest for killing military personnel and interfering with our search…we both knew he wasn’t about to do that, however. We fought there and, luckily for me, he simply broke my leg instead of outright killing me. The three dark jedi that we supposedly subdued? That was his doing…not ours.

Manaan…

We were sent to Manaan after that…to ‘guard’ the Republic kolto interests. I’d been there before…twice. Both times had…disturbing…effects on me that have only now come back to my mind, and…well, I’ll tell you at the end.

Anyway, as I said before, my need for food seems to be a bane for me when it comes to Vex. He was waiting for me in a local dive bar, a place most of our men go to eat while on Manaan. It was late, I hadn’t eaten for some time and so I’d headed out…even with the warning feelings I was getting to stay away from the place, I was just too stubborn and, well, hungry, to care much. I went anyway.

He was waiting there, in one of the booths, and as I entered the people within the bar began to shift around in an odd fashion. I was wary and suspicious as a tunnel through them opened up and…lo and behold…there was Vex Praetor.

She smirked a bit and shook her head, obviously finding some amusement in the memory.

I learned a lot about him that day. More than I would care to admit to him. He is, despite his best attempts not to be, a good person beneath it all….very DEEP beneath it all, but it’s still there. I can’t say I enjoyed speaking to him over much, he isn’t exactly the type of person you’d want to hold a dinner conversation with, but we talked for a little while. Well…talked…it was more an argument than anything. He’d been injured, it seemed, on a mission while he was a jedi. He told me that he’d requested to search the archives to find if there was a way to heal himself fully. I didn’t understand at the time…hell…I still don’t, not really I think…but…

She trailed off, seemingly lost in thought as she mulled over her own words. Finally she came back to herself.

Either way, according to him, the Council stopped his searching and denied him access to whatever part of the archives he’d wanted to search through. From what I can tell that’s what he was, and still is, after…information to try to ‘heal’ himself. Because of this, he wanted to use my rank and the contacts I might have because of it. I was…more than a bit miffed at our conversation and left. That was when the force user…the sith soldier…entered. I believe he was after Vex, but he recognized me as well and there was a surprisingly short confrontation. I killed the man, but not before his lightsaber had cut into my side.

I’m still not fully clear on what happened…there was too much pain…but Vex…suddenly I remember him being there. Whatever happened…whatever he did…it saved my life…of this I’m sure. He warned me there would be pain, that he wasn’t going to let me die…and he didn’t…obviously. By the time the medical team got there, he was leaving. Three days later, the day I was slated to be released for duty, he came to my medical room. I still don’t know why. He didn’t ask anything of me…teased me about the fact that the military seemed insistent on killing me with paperwork…asked me to ‘refrain from further actions’ such as fighting someone with a lightsaber and that he ‘wasn’t entirely helpless’ in such things.

She chuckled slightly and shook her head, seemingly both puzzled and amused at the same time by the memory.

When I asked why he was there, and expressed my disbelief that he was simply visiting because he ‘cared,’ he, of course, informed me that he did care because if I died he’d have lost the time, finances, and effort put into coercing help ((assistance --stupid word filter!--)). As one can imagine, I wasn’t entirely pleased with his reply…though…afterward I wondered if perhaps it wasn’t more than that. I’m afraid I was rather cold in my reply and, knowing Vex, he was likely poking around in my mind at the time…what ever the case, he told me that I shouldn’t be so offended by his statement…that he’d been honest with me about his intentions, and that if he hadn’t wanted…“desired” was his term…to see me remain alive I wouldn’t have been. There was…more to it, about his healing, but…in essence I am alive now because he sincerely wanted me to stay alive.

I admit that I allowed him to go without raising an alarm. We both knew that his destruction of the security camera in my room had guards on their way and that he couldn’t stay…and…in being honest with you…I didn’t wish to see him caught…for his sake, and my sake, and for the sake of the guards and others in the medical facility. Even when he left and the guards came I didn’t mention him. The fault in that is my own, and no one else.

There is, contained in this chit, a conversation I had with Colonel Vinay of the Republic Army, and one that took place shortly after my release from the medical facility. It is attached to the conversation I had with my brother, though they happened at two very different times. The conversation was unpleasant to say the least, and you can make of it what you will. ((Link))

She paused then, lacing her fingers and resting her elbows on her knees as she sat cross legged on the bed. Aunna was silent a moment, seemingly looking for how to continue, the curtain of her hair falling about her shoulders and partially hiding her face before she looked up again.

Two weeks went by without a word from Vex. It was odd, and it made me anxious…I couldn’t help but wonder what mischief he was causing about Ahto City. Just because I didn’t hear FROM him, didn’t mean that I didn’t hear OF him, however. There had been a number of curious happenings around the city…all tell tale signs of Vex and his powers…people with their minds picked clean…sith, republic, fringe…no one was discriminated against. When one of our couriers was intercepted and his package ‘missing’ when he arrived…I was given direct orders to discover the cause.

I didn’t need to discover the cause, I knew it already…I just needed to FIND it…him.

Vex wasn’t one for people, this much I knew…and I didn’t have much hope in tracking him down…I did, however, have one thought…if I couldn’t find him, he would just have to come find me. He seemed to prefer it that way anyway.

He did find me, and not a moment too late. I’d been surrounded by a rather nasty bunch of Sith officers full of the smell of alcohol and looking for someone to pick on. It happened to be me. Needless to say I was pleased enough to see Vex, but in the end I wound up unconscious due to his…method of dispatching the problem. When I woke up it was in an unfamiliar place that, apparently, Vex had made livable enough for himself. I woke, unfortunately, to the sound and feel of the base exploding.

He had somehow learned of the bombing, and that day had discovered the time it would take place. That, he said, had been the reason for treating the courier the way he had…though I never discovered what happened to his package. Either way, he had used the courier to lure me out of the base and saved my life once again.

There was, of course, more to her story than that…the way she’d blamed him for it, the way he’d denied it, the…emotions…she’d felt, and ignored.

He said he would find me again…he did.

As I searched for who might have bombed the base, someone targeting myself, I decided it was best to not stay with the remainder of my men. I didn’t want to risk any more lives. The day Vex found me again, I was staying in a secure hangar in one of our transports. He was there before myself, which, in retrospect, should have put me on edge. I was, at the time, too tired to really notice his presence and immediately sat down to work. Only then did he make himself known to me. In the course of the conversation that followed he asked if I had discovered the person who had bombed the base since he wished to “speak with them in private.” Unfortunately for both of us, I hadn’t…not until I looked back to the screen I had up…the list of my potential enemies.

Vorlax…Samael Vorlax…he had arrived on Manaan the day I had, and hadn’t left.

My father knows about the man and his threats to me, and it seemed he intended to make good on them as he appeared that very day outside of the transport. It was lucky for me that Vex was there, but…as I’m finding out more and more these days, luck seems to want to have very little to do with my life, and the Force seems to have a rather cruel sense of humor. I started the security cameras for the area to capture the happenings and keep Vorlax behind bars…permanently. I stated as much in my trial, but the copy of the recording I gave to Manaan security seemed to have vanished mysteriously. Thankfully, I was forward thinking enough to make more than one copy of the footage, and one of those copies is included here, as well as his file. ((link))

Vorlax was taken into custody. I’m not sure why they would say he wasn’t, but he WAS taken in…

Again, I take responsibility for not informing the MPs that Vex was within the transport, and again it was for selfish, as well as logical reasonings. I didn’t want him caught, and I didn’t want them dead. After they left, Vex and I had another little talk. I was honest with him in the fact that I wished he wouldn’t simply help me because he wished to protect his interests…since that seemed to be all I was to him…I knew he was manipulating me, I knew he never told me everything, but I didn’t like it one bit that he was treating me like something worthless, a mere tool to be used and tossed away carelessly. I told him this and more…I told him that I had seen good in him…how he could be if he chose…and for once, I admitted that I cared about if he lost the full use of his heart and soul as a person. I cared if he allowed himself to become so entrapped in his search for healing that he lost himself completely.

Something I said must have gotten through to him because, for once, he didn’t have much to say in return…and what he did say…only now have I come to realize that it was more than a warning, even it he only meant it as one….it still haunts me, what he said “Sometimes one is lost before they can realize it or hope to find a path back, Aunna. Follow, and you run the risk of getting lost yourself.” Sometimes I wonder if I’ve already started down that path, or if I’m only just now finding myself.

She shook her head again and sighed heavily.

He left, then, and I would assume that it was that time that he left Manaan since things were decidedly more quiet in Ahto City from that point until I spoke to Jade. The only transmission I have from Jade after he turned to the Sith is on here, unlike what they accuse me of… ((link))

It was the next day that I was kidnapped. It didn’t take long for it to happen. I was on my way back from the base grounds to the place the rest of the personnel were staying when she came. There was a short scuffle in the ally where they found her fur, she cut it herself, and then I was taken to Nar Shaddaa.

Most of what was said about Nar Shaddaa was true.

I was taken there by the cathar, who WANTED to be found. When we arrived…I could tell Vex had been waiting…he’d sensed me and I tried to warn him away…something hadn’t been right about the situation from the beginning, but, as Vex has a tendency to do…he dismissed the warning and came anyway. The cathar unbound me and stated she’d be sure the ones that needed to find me would if I stayed near by. I would have, if it hadn’t been for that bald devil of a dark jedi that had shown up.

You know the details from there for the most part…at least from the Republic stand point. Jade and his men were there, etcetera…I, however, was on the other side of a building from them. Vex had passed me and, in the whole of things, ended up calling out the one man I would have preferred he wouldn’t have bothered. That demon attempted, several times, to harm me…threatening my life once, and mentally torturing me another. Vex, for whatever reason, continued to put himself between the dark jedi and myself…going so far, at one point, as to use his persuasion to try to get me to leave him and save myself.

She paused again, blinking and hanging her head for a moment.

Perhaps I should have, but I didn’t…I couldn’t…I knew that if I left Vex would die. I don’t know how I knew…at least, at that point I didn’t know…but I knew and I couldn’t let him die for me…I didn’t want that…he’d risked everything to come and save me, and in the end he would have died if I left, where we might both live if I stayed. I found out, today in fact, that he had seen his death coming…had seen that he would die trying protect me…yet he told me, when we spoke about it this morning, that to try and change it, or avoid it, would have been unacceptable to him…that his death was “more agreeable than the alternatives.”

In light of this, I’m even more unwavering in my stance that my decision to save his life was the correct one. The sniper shot was nearly fatal, but he still had a chance to live and I knew it. I took my opportunity to leave the area I had been trapped in, between the battling Sith and Republic factions and the battling dark jedi…no…battling force users, as I can’t say I still see Vex as a fully fledged dark jedi…I had been stuck in my indecision too long and I wasn’t willing to allow it to continue further and cause my protector’s death.

Knowing what the consequences would be should I be seen aiding him, I gave Jade my badge with the information on it that you currently have a copy of. He didn’t know, at the time, that I gave it to him as he and Sergeant Meesha had gotten into some kind of fist fight…I still don’t know why it came to that…and Jade had been dazed. After that I had taken Sgt. Meesha’s discarded combat knife and went to help Vex.

I never harmed any of the Republic soldiers…

…In fact…the only one I ever harmed was that bald demon…the one I still don’t know the name of. I’d waited for as long as I could as he…

The blue hologram figure of Aunna looked down swiftly, hiding her face below her hair. If they could have been in the same room as the woman at the time, no doubt they would have been able to feel the pain and anger boiling up in her as she remembered those horrible moments of waiting behind that broken pile of wall and rubble. Slowly she lifted her head again, having composed herself slightly.

I know now that it was the force and my own will keeping me there until the proper time, waiting to strike. When I did…it wasn’t a simple matter for me. I’ve been honest thus far, and so I’ll continue to be honest…I wanted that man dead…I wanted him dead, and I wanted it badly. That bald dark jedi was a very real threat and he was about to kill the single person who’d saved my life more times than any other of my own men. I didn’t care about myself or what would happen to me…I wanted…needed…to protect Vex. He had come to my rescue time and again, showing (even if he denied it, or played it off at the time) that there was more good in him, that he CARED more, than he let on…or perhaps he didn’t even realize it himself.

I remember, clearly, thinking about the consequences of my actions and what they might be…but I wouldn’t…I couldn’t…allow this man to die, Republic be damned.

Like all members of security and military personnel of the Galactic Republic, I took an oath to serve and to protect…I have, at all times, done everything within my power to do both to the best of my ability and done so with little regret. At times I’ve been blinded or bound by orders that I found unjust, but I followed them through so long as I didn’t see it as an immediate threat to the lives of my men. On Nar Shaddaa…I harmed none save the one who tried to harm me, and then tried to kill the one person that had come to save my life time and again.

With no men to protect from harm, I did the one thing that my heart told me was right. I was not seeking the destruction of the Republic through saving Vex…I was not condoning his actions toward our citizens…I was not intending any harm or betrayal of any kind…it isn’t in me to do so…I’ve worked my entire life to protect our people, and I wouldn’t throw it away so lightly…but there are times, and situations, where you have to take a stand for what you believe in.

That was mine.

I believed in Vex at that moment, on that day, and I stood up for him when no one else would.

As a soldier, and as a human, it was my duty to protect those that were worthy of protection. If at no other time…on THAT day, I found Vex Praetor worthy of protection against a far darker foe…an enemy to both of us, and a far more deadly enemy of the Republic. When I struck, Vex struck, and between the both of us we managed to drive off that bald demon.

It branded me a traitor, but at least Vex got away alive…I couldn’t ask for more.

Yes, I’d hoped that I could get away with my actions without being discovered, but I knew the likelihood of that happening was slim, so, when Sgt Meesha found me and arrested me…it didn’t come as a complete surprise.

The nearly tangible combination of frustration, pain, and the almost urgent need to get her perspective across to them…to anyone…that had colored her words seemed to melt away from her form as she slumped slightly, her muscles (having tensed over the course of this section of her dialog) relaxing slightly as she took a fortifying breath and ran a hand through her hair.

This brings us to my less than pleasant time in prison. Since it was fairly uneventful, I’ll spare you the details. Suffice it to say that it WAS unpleasant. Solitary confinement is certainly nothing I would wish upon anyone but the worst of criminals. My only solace, really, was Robbens’ notes…short as they were…and a visit from, oddly enough, the togruta jedi that interrogated me upon my first week in the compound.

The trial, if you can call it that, was a joke above all else. Witnesses that didn’t ‘witness’ anything, falsified evidence, MISSING evidence…truth serum?! No, it would have been easier and far more cost and time effective for them to have simply condemned me. However, I’m glad they didn’t take that route. Vex, it seems, has deemed himself my official protector. Logically…and oh how he likes to work logically…it doesn’t make a lick of sense for him to have come for me, to save me from my fate, and…truth be told…he would have likely been better off if he hadn’t. Even I know that I’m of little worth to his ‘cause’…his personal agendas…as a traitor. Logically he should have left me to die so that he wouldn’t have to worry about another loose end to clean up. I don’t believe he was…IS…acting logically.

He arrived in the guise of a jedi, under a name that was once his, and posed as my escort to the firing squad. I was…well, surprised would be a mild term and it wouldn’t cover the spectrum of emotions properly, but for now it will suffice I suppose. Even as we were near a way to escape he gave his all to try and get me away, and once again, I refused to leave him there for dead. I’m sure there isn’t much that the HNN hasn’t covered on that topic, so I won’t beat a dead horse.

The next day we split up, Vex and I, in the lower city. He went to lead the Republic troops away while I went to pay a visit to Cliff. I’m sure my father remembers Cliff, the son of the antiques collector that he, my brother, and I went to go see. Anyway, I knew that Cliff owned a cantina on Coruscant, and so that’s where I went to get into contact with the people I trusted to get us both off the planet.

Unfortunately, a shadow from my past met me there with his dark jedi pet.

Andrew…

Another heavy sigh escaped her and she almost seemed to not want to speak the name.

Forgive me if I’m brief on this, but I don’t wish to remember the topic. Andrew threatened to do things that no woman would care to have happen to her, then sell me to the hutts because of my voice. He, apparently, had Republic forces outside waiting for me and he made sure to inform me of it. I attempted to contact Vex with what small connection I had to the force, but that pet zabrak of his cut me off before I could. It wasn’t my ideal situation, being pinned to a wall, cut off, and forced to…of all things…sing for the man who’d stabbed me in the shoulder while trying to kill me not five years before, but that’s exactly the position I found myself in.

Somehow Vex found me through that song…and he found me more swiftly than I’d imagined…and not a moment too soon. The zabrak and Andrew, both, were dealt with by Vex though…I’m still fuzzy on the details. I was…rather near blacking out at the time and was more concerned with breathing than whatever Vex was doing to my tormentor….I was just happy that he was there. I wasn’t quite so happy when I saw exactly what had happened outside, but….I wasn’t exactly in a position to argue with Vex about it either.

She didn’t mention that she’d been in his arms at the time and half conscious because of it. She didn’t mention how she’d felt safe with him like that. She didn’t mention that she’d fallen asleep in his arms like that.

Not long after, we had our encounter with you, and from there you know about as much as I can tell you.

There was a long pause as she gazed at her hands pensively, the sound of footsteps in the distance causing her to look up for a moment before sighing and returning her eyes to their previous focus.

I don’t expect any of this to clear my name…that isn’t my intent. I’m very well aware of my current standing with the Republic and the fact that my branding is very likely VERY permanent…no, my intent is simply to bring some of the truth of my situation, and how I got here, to the public eye. I was tried unfairly, not given a chance to defend myself properly, or even to tell my side of the story, convicting or not. I’m not asking for a miracle…I’m just asking that somehow, some of this truth that was so well buried gets to someone…anyone…everyone for all I care.

I, hopefully, have someone that I can contact to keep an ear out in the military branches…my former secretary…do enough digging and you’ll find her if you wish. Maybe I can find the person who was the driving force behind this so called trial and help bring them a little bit of the Republic’s justice…but for now all I ask is that you believe me in everything I’ve said here.

As I was told before, when I last saw you, I have a great many reasons to lie about things…but won’t. It doesn’t benefit me, and, since I expect to remain a traitor to the Republic, I really have nothing left to lose. If I’m caught my life is forfeit anyway, they’ve taken everything else from me… they cannot, however, take the truth from me…not now.

I can’t say how appreciative I am that you’re even taking the time to listen to this much of my story…even considering that if MIGHT be truth. Of all the people in the Republic, you’re one of the very few that I actually still trust…and I’m trusting you to do what you think is right with this information, whatever that may be…just please…whatever you do…whatever you think of me or of Vex…please, do not bury what little I have to show of my side of this mess.

I earned, in my time as a pilot for Corellia, my second class Bloodstripes…I pray that one day, I’ll be able to wear them again proudly and without repercussion. Until that time, however, I ask one more thing of you…please do not allow them to be taken from my parents unless it is by me. I understand that may be asking a lot considering their meaning, but…

She allowed her words to trail off, saying everything she couldn’t…

It would tear her heart apart to know they had been stripped from her, taken back because she had done something that she had felt was right. The only bit of pride she still had to show outwardly, as was customary to the Corellian people. Hopefully, Rook, of all people, would understand just how much she cared about her heritage and her culture…if he did, he would understand just how much that one symbol meant to her, and how effected she would be by its loss.

Thank you, once more….for everything…hopefully we’ll be able to meet face to face again some day and I can thank you properly and with all the flourish and frills that might entail…because we all know how much you love flourish and frills.

It was a mild attempt at humor, some small show of what had once been a far more carefree young woman. Aunna, hologram or no, was attempting to be some small semblance of herself after all the weight that had come before then. She’d stood up then, getting ready to shut down the recording device when she seemed to remember something.

Oh yes…I mentioned earlier that there had been several strange incidents for me on Manaan prior to meeting Vex…I nearly forgot to explain that. Ten years ago I was sent to bring back a shipment of kolto to Corellia…the first day there I had, what I’ve come to learn, was a vision…broken down in pieces.

I saw, and heard, Vex that day…in the exact places where I would meet him later…the dive bar, the hangar where Vorlax attacked me, the alleyway where he saved me from the sith soldiers…I saw glimpses of them all…

Five years later…similar occurrences happened…this time with a jedi present…one Rhissai. I smelled the fire from the base and felt the death there in what would come to be my office, heard Colonel Vinay shouting at me, and later…again in the hangar, inside Rhissai’s ship…I felt Vex’s breath on my neck and heard his rebreather over my shoulder like I did the day Vorlax attacked me.

I know it sounds unbelievable…hell, even I don’t believe it completely and I know it sounds insane, but it’s true enough. I doubt I would have even remembered those things again if it weren’t for the strange things that have been happening. Since I met Andrew again, my powers in the force have grown it seems…manifesting in odd ways….
….Like song.

Believe this last part as you will, I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t, but I said I’d tell you at the end, so there it is.

Goodbye for now.

With a few steps out of the recorder’s view, the hologram winked out of existence. Kovus blinked, wide eyed, and sat back in his seat, unsure how to react to the information he’d just absorbed. He stared at the point the hologram had been for a long minute before speaking…allowing his mind to digest the new details a bit longer.

She didn’t mention any of this when she came…she…didn’t even…it took him to even bring the topic up when she came…and even that was after she asked him to leave. After Sarah told her she was being disowned…thank the force Vex stopped Sarah from burning those Bloodstripe pants.

A hand ran down his face as he grew silent again. After another long moment, blue eyes turned to look at Rook to see his reaction to the information.

Well…I suppose we should continue on with what’s left here.

With that he brought up each of the other items on the data chit one by one. After they were done with Aunna’s information, he sighed slightly and leaned back in his seat again, uncertain what to make of it all…

…and we still have the information Praetor left…I have a feeling it will be…rather more gruesome…

[Meira]

It had been so very odd to sit there and watch the holo recording. Rook studied Aunna's posture, her vocal and facial expressions, searching for the young woman he had met ten long years ago. He couldn't see her. Not entirely. This woman that told her story, laying it all out. She was Aunna, no doubt, but a very different one than he had known. Rook of course first noticed this when they met in the undercity of Coruscant, but had wondered it if was merely the stress of the situation that had caused the change. Rook now knew that it was far more than that one incident. Indeed, that night was nothing compared to Aunna's recent past. Only toward the end, with her attempt at humor, did Rook see a glimmer of the woman he once knew. But it was fleeting. That Aunna was gone, changed forever, just as the Rook that she might have known was also changed.

Dark gray eyes didn't move for quite some time under furrowed brows. Even when the recording ended and Kovus spoke his shock, Rook didn't move. It was a lot to take in, but he believed her. All of it. And now, more than before, Rook was determined to keep his promise to the woman. It wasn't just his own sense of obligation to the woman, it wasn't even the brief but meaningful history that they shared, but it was his own sense of justice. He knew it would be right, not easy, but right to help her... and to even help Vex, to a certain extent.

Perhaps it was the mention of the Bloodstripes. His hand that wasn't supporting his chin unthinkingly touched the gold piping on the side of his leg. The Bloodstripes that he still believed that he had not truly earned. A secret mark of shame that he bore every day. Oh, there would be no one in the universe that could stop him from protecting that honor to those that truly deserved it. Aunna's Bloodstripes were safe.

Rook finally stirred at the mention of the rest of the data, and he nodded his head for Kovus to bring it up. It was all there. Plenty to clear Aunna's name of the most heinous of charges against her, at least he believed so. Of her own admission, of course, she was not entirely innocent, but compared to what she had been accused of, the few crimes that she did commit were nothing.

The last of the items to be reviewed came from Vex, and though part of Rook still wanted to dispose of the man's evidence and forget him, that part was growing weaker. If anything, as Aunna's friend, he was obliged to at least view what the man had given. He nodded his head yet again to Kovus. Gruesome was likely to be an understatement. Rook sighed, ran a hand along his face and settled a bit more into his chair.

Let's get it over with then.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Kovus nodded once as Rook said to continue on. To be honest, he wasn’t looking forward to this one bit. It had been difficult enough for him to watch that recording of his daughter, looking and speaking as she had. She was certainly a far cry from the happy and precocious little girl he’d taken on camping trips, and far more down trodden than the strong woman she’d grown into. Now he was about to get a taste for the man that she found herself tied to, willing or no. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know…but, it couldn’t be helped if Vex had anything even remotely helpful to his daughter’s case.

Switching out the data chits, he’d put one of Vex’s in. It was the map…the coordinates the man had promised. The way to find Vorlax…or rather, what was left of him as the case may have been. Slightly relieved, he marked the chit and set it aside as well. Putting in the last one, he found only one (rather large) file. A vid file it seemed. With a heavy sigh Kovus brought up the file, turning the screen so that Rook could also see. Just from the opening…the fact that the twi’lek was bound to a chair…Kovus knew this was going to be a long…he moved the curser to see the time remaining….thirty minutes. Soon enough the dark figure of Vex stepped into view, bending over that unconscious figure. Twin lightsabers were held behind his back, unlit, both hands clasped behind him. After a moment Vex straightened again as the twi’lek stirred.

Wake up, Vorlax…

Those red and purple sabers flamed to life as he lowered his arms to his sides, the blades flipping around several times.

I need YOU to be FOCUSED!

Suddenly the blades vanished in front of him as his arms moved forward and down, a muffled scream of pain coming from the gagged twi’lek.

Are you focused yet?

Kovus wished he could say he were astounded by the calm, almost polite, tone of voice Vex held as he’d (presumably) buried his lightsabers into the blue man’s legs. Unfortunately…he’d seen his fair share of POW torture and couldn’t say it was entirely surprising. Especially coming from this man.

Yes…it was going to be a long thirty minutes.

Over the course of Vex’s…interrogation…of Samael Vorlax the twi’lek was made to recount his threats upon Aunna from several years ago. Then continue on with how he’d been able to get free again because of one of his military contacts. It was made clear that he’d gotten the help of a slicer to get into the base on Manaan, and again into the hanger she’d been staying in later. Vorlax had divulged everything, all the names of all the contacts he’d used to get into the base and the hanger, to get out of trouble time and again.

Vex hadn’t been gentle in getting that information either. Bones were broken, limbs severed…cauterized by his sabers…it didn’t end there though. No, the man was put on a life support system and questioned further. The pain was already enough that all Vex had to do was bring out one lightsaber…at most ignite it…and the twi’lek would start singing like a bird. It was worse than much of what he’d seen in the Republic military…and he’d seen quite a bit in his time. It was made painfully obvious that Vex intended for the man to be put into carbonite for later ‘use’...obviously this was that use.

As the feed cut out, Kovus sat back in his seat and looked troubled. The whole situation left a bad taste in his mouth. Looking at the date of the vid again. Two and a half weeks before Aunna’s conviction…plenty of time to see that she had no part in the making of it. A shake of his head and he leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk as his hands took the weight of his head while he stared blankly at the wooden top. Why? Why did HIS little girl have to get caught up in all of this mess? What had she done to deserve this? Any of it? Were whatever gods, or the force, really so cruel as to do this to such a kind hearted girl as his Aunna?

A low growl escaped him at the thought that his family, his children, had ended up in such situations. His son a turn coat and his daughter wrongly accused of crimes she didn’t commit. Where had he, as a father, gone wrong? Certainly he hadn’t with Aunna…she’d only been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but Jade? How could he make any of this better? And seeing what Vex did to others…it had him more than concerned for his daughter…but…if the way he’d acted the other night was any indication of his concern for Aunna then….

He sighed heavily and closed his eyes.

…What a mess…

[Meira]

Rook didn't speak during the video. He was held captivated, mostly by disgust, as he watched the vid of Vex's "interrogation". He really didn't want to refer to it as that. It was torture. Part of Rook reminded him the reason for the man's torture. That part of him could understand, at least to some degree, why Vex was doing what he was doing. No matter how much the dark man might deny of deflect it, he cared deeply for Aunna. She was more to him than a simple means to an end. Why else would he do this?

Even Rook, who knew very little about Vex, knew that he preferred to do something quick and be done with it rather than drag things out. At least that's how the man seemed to the young King. He could have it all wrong though. Vex could be a simple sadist. A greater part of Rook liked that thought more for some reason. In either case, he was relieved when the vid ended. If this Vorlax guy was truly still around somewhere in carbonite, then he could be used to confirm the information revealed in the vid.

That vid alone won't be enough. Rook stated, running his hand through his hair. Any lawyer is going to cry duress the moment it's shown. But if he's still in carbonite. He sighed. It won't help Vex at all. But I don't think that was his purpose.

Rook stood then, crossing to a window to look outside. The landscaping of the Borgonia estate was a welcome contrast to the aweful images he had just witnessed. Looking outside was like washing it away. It didn't wash off entirely, of course, but some was better than nothing.

I doubt she's given you any means of contacting her further? Rook was sure he already knew the answer to the question, but he was compelled to ask. He still wasn't sure if Aunna was ready for him to bring this information to the proper authorities or not. He of course needed some time. He had to seek out the right people, ones with enough power to affect a change, and more importantly, ones he could trust. But he needed a way to assure himself that Aunna would be ready when all of this evidence finally did come to light.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Kovus, for all of his training and years of service, wasn't completely without his more...vulnerable...moments. He'd spoken, then fallen silent again, eyes still closed, face still resting in his hands...it was because of this that when Rook spoke again, the older man started slightly as he looked up.

Of course not...but Praetor mentioned the man being in carbonite to me directly when he handed over the chits. I doubt he was lying about it, he was....in no mood for lies I believe, and...odd as it seems...he doesn't seem one for lies. Half truths perhaps, but not lies unless it will get him the desired results. It most certainly wouldn't get him his desired results in this case.

He paused and ran his eyes along the shelves of books as Rook stood and walked over to the window, both needing something to get those god awful images out of their minds. One hand ran through his short hair as he stood and paced a bit, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

No, I don't think that it was his intent to help himself...not unless he's helping himself by helping her. At this point I really don't know....and, unfortunately, no...she didn't give me a means of contacting her.

Another pause and Kovus stopped pacing to look at Rook.

She's a clever girl, she'll find a way to contact us, and Praetor is obviously skilled enough at not being caught to keep them both out of trouble. Between the two of them I have no doubt we'll get something sooner or later. I do know, however, that they have their own ship now, so it's possible they may return....and hopefully, if they do, it will be less...... well, just less of what it was this last time.

With another sigh he shook his head. There really was no way to describe how the entire night had been for the people in the manor.

Thank you, Rook, for helping her....you can't imagine how thankful I am.

The slip-up wasn't even caught by Kovus this time, the necessity for formality being easily pushed aside by his gratitude.

[Meira]

Rook's gaze lingered on the landscape as Kovus spoke. He nodded his head a couple of time, shrugged his shoulders, sighed. In general, the whole thing was a mess, including Rook's own interpretations. He knew his feelings for Aunna were no longer romantic, but his affection for the woman, however it might be described, was enough to hold off the repulsion that he felt towards Preator. Rook knew that he would never think well of the man, no matter how much Aunna supported him, but he could not entirely deny his humanity either. Regardless of how he treated others, Aunna was indeed safe with him, and she could still his hand if necessary. Rook knew this from personal experience.

Finally, Rook turned back around just as Kovus did. When the man gave his thanks, Rook was also unaware of the slip-up in custom. It wasn't likely that he would have cared. In this situation, they were not their public selves, merely two men who had been brought together out of strange circumstance. Rook crossed the room and took Kovus' hand in his own to shake, his other hand resting on Kovus' shoulder.

You have no need to thank me. Aunna saved my life. It is an honor to help her in return. If you or your family needs anything, just let me know. We'll be in touch.

Rook gave Mr. Borgonia a nod and dismissed himself from the room. Not far from the study, a servant found him and escorted him to the door. On his way, Rook passed Mrs. Borgonia and the noble women she was entertaining that afternoon. He was obliged to stop and greet them. His smile possibly reassuring a slight stiffness in Mrs. Borgonia's shoulders. She had nothing to fear with him there to help. Her daughter would be safe and clear of charges if he had anything to do with it. After respectfully declining a cup of tea, Rook dismissed himself and entered his transport to take him back to the palace.